Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

Trump’s Income Tax Plan: Will You Pay More or Less?

A picture of the White House, symbolizing the Trump income tax plan and U.S. fiscal policy.

Trump is back in the White House—and taxes are back on the table. With his re-election in 2024, President Donald Trump has reignited one of the biggest financial debates in America: what happens next to your federal income taxes. At the heart of it? The Trump tax cuts of 2017, many of which are set […]

The IRS Streamline Procedures: How to Fix Missed Foreign Filings

Foreign currency spread across a world map, representing global income and the IRS streamline procedures for reporting missed foreign assets.

So, you’ve just discovered you were supposed to file a Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR), maybe a Form 8938, and include that income from your old investment in the Cayman Islands. Whoops. Deep breaths—you’re not the first (and definitely not the last) U.S. taxpayer to miss the fine print on international tax reporting. That’s where […]

Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures for Missed Foreign Income

A woman holding foreign currency, symbolizing a U.S. expat catching up on unreported accounts through the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures.

If you’re a U.S. taxpayer living stateside with unreported foreign accounts or income, the words “offshore compliance” probably don’t inspire joy. But here’s the good news: the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) knows mistakes happen—and they’ve created a pathway to help you fix them (before things get expensive). It’s called the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures (SDOP), […]

What Is Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)? A Guide for Expats

Most Americans know basic tax concepts and terminology, like income, credits, deductions, and exclusions. Phrases like modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), on the other hand, aren’t always as well known. If you’re not familiar with MAGI, it can benefit you to read up on the concept. After all, understanding your MAGI can help you reduce […]

Itemized Deductions vs. Standard Deduction: an Expat’s Guide

It’s a question that comes up for expats almost every year: “Should I choose the standard deduction or itemized deductions?” The answer — as with so many things in life — is “it depends.” But if you need help choosing between itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction, we’re here to help. While the standard deduction […]

Tax Loss Harvesting: A U.S. Expat’s Guide to Smarter Investing

Every investor hits a rough patch. But for U.S. expats, a dip in your portfolio isn’t just bad luck—it’s a tax opportunity in disguise. Tax loss harvesting is the strategy of turning your investment losses into real-life tax savings by offsetting capital gains and lowering your taxable income. It’s like spring cleaning for your portfolio—except […]